3. BYU vs UAB: Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
LINE BYU -7
ATS PICK BYU
I’m more than happy to kick back and eat it if and when I’m wrong …
I think Conference USA is about to get steamrolled over this bowl season.
I don’t like Marshall against Louisiana in the New Orleans; I don’t like Middle Tennessee against Toledo in the Bahamas; I don’t like North Texas against Miami University in the Frisco Football Classic; I don’t like Old Dominion against Tulsa in the Myrtle Beach; I don’t like WKU against Appalachian State in the Boca Raton; and I don’t like UTSA against San Diego State in the Frisco – the other one.
More on UTEP against Fresno State in the New Mexico in a moment.
Of course some of the Conference USA teams are going to get a win – but I’m not entirely certain of that. UAB is added to that mix.
This isn’t an anti-Blazer pick as much as it is a pro-Cougar selection.
Unless you think BYU might be mopey that it’s not in a New Year’s Six game like it deserves to be, the seven it’s giving away is a gift from the gods.
Start with this. UAB is 1-3 all-time in bowl games with the lone win coming against Northern Illinois in the 2018 Boca Raton – because everyone beats Northern Illinois in bowl games.
Last year’s BYU team came into the Boca Raton roaring, and it ripped up UCF 49-23. This year’s version only lost to Boise State and Baylor, beat six Power Five teams, beat the Mountain West champ Utah State team by 14, and UAB beat …
Marshall. UTEP. North Texas. Nice wins, but not quite the same.
BYU is too efficient, it doesn’t make enough mistakes, and it should be able to pound away on the great UAB defensive from enough to control things early on.
Again, this isn’t anything against UAB – it’s good. If the BYU from the regular season shows up, though, winning by more than a touchdown isn’t going to be a problem.
Now, speaking of Conference USA …
NEXT: College Football Pick Against The Spread No. 2 Fresno State vs UTEP PUBC Mobile New Mexico Bowl